June 26, 2006

 

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

Dr. John Huffman, Jr.

600 St. Andrews Road

Newport Beach, CA  92663-5325

 

Dear John:

 

I am enjoying your series through the book of First Corinthians. Yesterday, I was intrigued with your sermon on “family matters” as it pertained to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA and our local congregation. You may know that I’m not a fan of the corporate denomination and never will be. I’m not sure that we should classify every Presbyterian as a family member in the true Church of Jesus Christ. As Paul writes, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” And it follows that practicing homosexuals and sodomites have not been washed, sanctified, or justified before God despite their baptism or confession of faith. In essence, actions speak louder than empty words and water.

Another point in your sermon today that caught my attention was that you are not a schismatic. Have you ever considered that it might be Biblical to be a schismatic? Please consider the following points.

First, the sleeping wise virgins did not share their “oil” with the foolish virgins and were soon separated from them. “But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” Maybe if the wise virgins had been awake to begin with they would not have been with the foolish virgins.

Second, Jesus Christ warns about allowing heretics teach and make spiritual decisions for Christians. “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” Being with heretics will always be a distraction away from the mission that Jesus Christ has given to each one of us.

Third, Jesus Christ commands us to separate from those who are practicing and advocating abominations before God. "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.'" Should we be identified with a denomination that will be judged by God? Should we allow ourselves to be judged by God for associating with the heretics? Needless to say, God will judge the Presbyterian Church USA sooner or later.

I believe that separating from the Presbyterian Church USA denomination will reinvigorate our local congregation into the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without having to fight the heretics, valuable energy can be channeled into the work of God. Can we still invite visiting godly Presbyterian ministers to guest preach? I believe so. Would this not give us spiritual freedom to worship God in truth and in spirit? I believe so. Let’s throw off the denominational shackles of bondage and remove ourselves from the coming judgment of God.

John, exercise your faith in God as Abraham did. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

 

 

In Christ,

 

 

 

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